SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL FIBER
A system for receiving optical fiber in microgravity including a spool portion to hold optical fiber created in microgravity, a catching mechanism to secure the fiber end to the spool and a capturing device that is extendable from near and retractable to near the spool portion to pull the optical fiber to the spool portion.
1 . A system for receiving optical fiber in microgravity, the system comprising:
a spool portion to hold optical fiber created in microgravity;
a catching mechanism to secure the fiber end to the spool; and
a capturing device that is extendable from near and retractable to near the spool portion to pull the optical fiber to the spool portion.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the catching mechanism comprises a grip that is triggered to cease receiving optical fiber once a predefined amount of fiber is in contact with the spool.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the grip is at least one of magnetically driven and spring-driven.
4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the grip is triggered based on at least one of a predefined amount of pressure applied by at least one of the capturing device and the optical fiber, and a control mechanism.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the spool portion further comprise at least one of a friction lock and a v-catch to engage the optical fiber as it is spooled.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a surface where the optical fiber contacts the spool portion comprises a sticky material.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a cutting mechanism cut the optical fiber once the spool portion has a defined amount of optical fiber on the spool portion.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the spool portion comprises an endoscopic spool component which controls opening and closing of the capturing device.
9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the endoscopic spool component controls placement of the capturing device to retrieve the optical fiber and pull the optical fiber to the spool portion.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a gripping mechanism to apply approximately an acceptable force to the optical fiber when the optical fiber is still a part of a preform material to create the optical fiber.
11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the gripping mechanism comprises a load cell to provide the acceptable force within an acceptable tolerance.
12 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the acceptable force is 1G.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of capstan and tractor to provide a pulling force to draw the optical fiber from a preform material and onto the spool portion.
14 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing to hold the spool portion, catching mechanism and capturing device within a controlled environment that comprises a gas.
15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the gas is a noble gas.
16 . A method for receiving optical fiber in microgravity, the method comprises:
separating an optical fiber from a preform material within a heated furnace;
pulling the optical fiber from within the heated furnace with a gripping mechanism;
monitoring tension of the optical fiber with a tension sensor and a diameter of the optical fiber with a diameter sensor;
attaching a capturing device, having a first end attached to the spool portion, to an end of the optical fiber with a second end of the capturing device;
at least one extending the forceps from the spool portion and retracting the forceps to the spool portion to pull the optical fiber to the spool portion; and
spooling the optical fiber onto the spool portion.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising securing the optical fiber to the spool portion with a catching mechanism.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising cutting the optical fiber once the spool portion has a defined amount of optical fiber on the spool portion with a cutting mechanism.
19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the gripping mechanism further comprises applying approximately 1G of force to the optical fiber when the optical fiber is still a part of a preform material to create the optical fiber.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the capturing device comprises forceps.